Nightmare/sleepwalking combo?

[MinnieBar]

Just ran upstairs as I heard noise and found DD1 (5) standing over DD2's bed (they are in the same room) shaking and repeatedly screaming 'I don't want to!'

I took her into our room but she was still really upset and impossible to communicate with, doing that panicky-crying thing.

I got a bit worried at this point so carried her downstairs to DH. He took her and although she'd calmed down a bit, she said she didn't know who either of us were (really frightened by this point!). Then she managed to get out that she wanted to read a book. While DH was getting one, I asked her if she remembered going to dd2's bed/me carrying her downstairs. She said no to both.

Is this sleepwalking? I seem to remember reading somewhere not to wake them up, but she was so upset.

She was quite whingey tired today (because DD2 has been playing up at bedtime!) so that may be a factor?

Any advice/experience much appreciated.

Anyone?

That sounds like a night terror to me. My younger sister was prone to them, used to 'wake' (I use inverted commas as she wasn't actually awake) and run around the landing of our house, screaming. My DS2 is also prone to the occasional night terror when very overtired. It is really frightening and worrying when it happens, the crying is awful

You are right that you shouldn't try to wake them - stay with them, stay calm, and they will eventually calm down and go back to sleep. Sometimes we find that DS needs to do a wee and will then settle back once he's been taken to the loo. He never remembers the terror in the morning.

My sister's terrors were really quite severe, and went on for quite some time (like most nights for months rather than weeks), and she was ultimately referred to a child psychologist - in her case, they were linked with anxieties around a house move. She's probably an extreme example though. For DS2, overtiredness is usually the culprit and from what you write I suspect this may have been the case for your DD, as well? Might be worth trying an earlier bedtime for a few days to see if this helps.

Sympathies, though. Night terrors are horrible to have to deal with.

Thank you dietcoke. Yes it was really scary - it was like she wasn't herself, if you know what I mean.

I don't think she's got anything to be particularly anxious about - she's really looking forward to going back to school, and there's nothing else going on for her/us.

DS used to wake up crying when he really needed a wee - but he was nothing like this.

An earlier bedtime sounds good even on a normal day